Federal election 2019: Fiona Martin wins Reid against Sam Crosby

Craig Laundy snatched the Reid electorate from Labor in 2013. Now newcomer Fiona Martin has retained the seat for the Liberals.

It was a Labor heartland seat until it was snatched by the Liberals for the first time by Craig Laundy in 2013 — but tonight, newcomer Fiona Martin has maintained the seat of Reid for the Liberals.

Mr Laundy, a staunch Turnbull supporter, announced he was retiring from politics just two months ago, leaving his party scrambling to find a replacement.

In fact, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s offer of the seat was snubbed by several potential star candidates, including former NSW Police deputy commissioner Nick Kaldas and journalist Stan Grant.

Mr Laundy’s replacement was eventually announced as child psychologist Fiona Martin — a relative unknown — meaning Labor opponent and business manager Sam Crosby was in with a real chance.

But tonight the seat was retained by Ms Martin with 53 percent of the vote.

Mr Laundy became the first Liberal member to hold the seat, located in Sydney’s inner west, which has a margin of 4.7 per cent.

Craig Laundy, pictured with his father Arthur Laundy at their pub, Marsden Brewhouse, announced he was retiring just two months ago. Picture: Tim Hunter

At the last election, the Liberals scored 54.7 per cent of votes, compared with Labor’s 45.3 per cent.

Mr Crosby had told reporters earlier this week he believed the sitting member’s departure was a gift to Labor.

“If we’re winning Reid, we’re winning government,” he told AAP.

He told the ABC departing Liberals including Mr Laundy and former PM Malcolm Turnbull had “turned their back” on the government, and that voters were increasingly frustrated.

“I don’t think, when I talk to people, that they want to reward the Liberal Party with another term. I don’t think they are up to it,” he said.

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FEDERAL

2019

NSW marginal seats

Reid

Fiona Martin is his Liberal replacement — although, as a relative unknown, was a gamble by the Liberal party. Picture: John Appleyard

Mr Laundy revealed he was ditching politics to spend more time with family in mid-March, becoming the seventh minister or former minister to abandon the Morrison government.

“The reality of modern politics is that, more often than not, a member of parliament has to put their constituents ahead of their family — something I’ve done over the past six years,” the pub baron told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“It’s now time to focus on my family, who I have spent so much time away from.”

Ms Martin, who grew up in Reid, told the ABC she believed voters were primarily worried about the economy this election.

Labor candidate Sam Crosby thought Mr Laundy’s departure would help his chances. Picture: Craig Wilson

“What we are hearing is about the economy, I think that is the theme of this election,” she said.

Other contenders include Keith Piper for the Christian Democratic Party, Charles Jago for The Greens, Young Lee for the United Australia Party and Rohan Laxmanalal for the Animal Justice Party.

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